Oregon State University Extension is in the midst of its Gorge Food Access Survey, part of its food security assessment. OSU Extension Food Systems Coordinator Grace Wesson says it has been ten years since the last food security assessment has been done. Wesson says when the assessment was done a decade ago, one in three households worried about running out of food, and one out of five actually do. She added the information gathered in the assessment generated more than $25 million in grants for the community. To take the food access survey, link to it through the Hood River County OSU Extension Facebook page, or go to beav.es/gorgefoodsurvey.
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City Of The Dalles Issue Water Advisory
Two of the City of The Dalles three wells that are used to meet summer water demands are currently out of service due to unexpected mechanical failures. City officials are encouraging water customers to minimize or avoid unnecessary outdoor water use for the next two weeks to avoid any water supply issues. Some of the things that customers can do to reduce outdoor water use include temporarily reducing lawn and garden watering…using a sprinkler, drip irrigation or soaker hose for landscape and garden watering rather than an open hose…and using a commercial car wash that recycles much of its water rather than washing vehicles at home. If washing vehicles at home, using a spring-loaded nozzle rather than an open hose is recommended. Repairs to the wells are expected to be completed by the end of June. Chenowith Water PUD customers are not affected by this advisory. Customers can confirm their water provider at thedalles.org/waterdistrictmap. For more information, contact the Public Works Department at (541) 296-5401.
Wasco County Approves Q-Life Loan
Wasco County Commissioners have approved a $3 million intergovernmental loan to Q-Life to help that agency with matching funds for a federal grant from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program. The grant would help increase fiber access in areas of Wasco County that do not have it. County Commissioner Scott Hege, who is also on the Q-Life board, noted they haven’t been successful in previous grant attempts, but he notes the state of Oregon has been allocated $700 million in this program. The Dalles City Council had already entered into a similar IGA with Q-Life.
Klickitat County Commission To Discuss Animal Shelter
Klickitat County Commissioners will discuss what can be done to in some way fund operations for an animal shelter at a workshop next Thursday. Klickitat County is one of just four counties in Washington that does not have a dog shelter. It received a state grant to build one a number of years ago, but money to operate it has never been allocated, and a building needs to be established by September 30 or the money will go back to the state. Commissioners heard from shelter supporters during their Tuesday meeting, and Commission Chair Ron Ihrig says it is a big issue, but also difficult given the County’s budget situation. Commissioners did bring up the idea of forming a 501c3 non-profit as a possible route to operational funding.
Fire Burns Area West Of Maupin
Fire burned a three-to-four acre area west of Maupin on Smock Road on Tuesday afternoon. The fire was reported at around 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, but was brought under control a couple of hours later. The Wasco County Sheriff’s Office said the fire forced a Level 3 evacuation advisory soon after the fire was reported due to strong winds in the area, but that was removed fairly soon afterward. A Level 2 evacuation advisory in the immediate vicinity of the fire remained in place overnight as a precaution, but that was lifted Wednesday morning. Crews from Wamic, Dufur, Juniper Flats, Tygh Valley, the Oregon Department of Forestry, and the U.S. Forest Service responded to this fire.
The Dalles Library HVAC Replacement Moves Forward
The Dalles City Council approved moving forward with replacement of the HVAC system at The Dalles-Wasco County Library in a 50-50 split with the library district as called for in their Intergovernmental Agreement, with the intent for the system to be installed this fall. City Manager Matthew Klebes says the HVAC system at the library has been in need of being replaced for a long time, adding this is part of an effort for the City to reduce the amount of deferred maintenance that needs to be done. The company AirX was awarded the contract of $423,640 to do the project, and the Library District was awarded a $115,000 state grant. Klebes said the City had budgeted for the project in the upcoming fiscal year.
Columbia River Salmon & Steelhead Fisheries
Oregon and Washington fishery managers have finalized preseason planning for 2025 Columbia River summer recreational salmon and steelhead fisheries. For the summer season, retention of jack hatchery Chinook and hatchery steelhead will be open starting June 16 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA. Due to the low summer Chinook forecast of 38,000 adults and allocation guidance, adult Chinook retention will be closed in summer season fisheries downstream of Priest Rapids Dam. Retention of sockeye will be allowed June 22 to July 6. The daily adult bag limit is two salmon/steelhead, but only one may be a hatchery steelhead and only one may be a sockeye. When sockeye retention is closed during the summer season, the daily adult bag limit is one hatchery steelhead. Anglers must stop fishing for jack salmon after taking a daily limit of adult salmon or steelhead. Hatchery steelhead retention will be allowed through July 31 from the Astoria-Megler Bridge upstream to The Dalles Dam and through Aug. 31 from The Dalles Dam upstream to the Highway 395 Bridge in Pasco, WA with a reduced bag limit of one fish.
Turtle Hatchlings From Gorge Now At Oregon Zoo
Seventeen northwestern pond turtle hatchlings, each about the size of a walnut, are making themselves at home at the Oregon Zoo this summer. Zoo conservationists are “head-starting” the endangered reptiles, caring for them until next spring when they’re big enough to have a fighting chance in the wild. Last month, the turtle hatchlings were retrieved from sites in the Columbia Gorge, transporting them to the zoo conservation lab. With heat lamps and plentiful food, the turtles experience summer year-round so they don’t go into hibernation. Once they reach about 50 gram, they are returned to their ponds and monitored for safety. Guests can watch the tiny turtles grow at the conservation lab inside the zoo’s Nature Exploration Station. The American bullfrog, native to the eastern United States but considered invasive here, can tip the scales at more than a pound and has been driving pond turtles and a host of other small, vulnerable aquatic species to the brink of extinction. The northwestern pond turtle, also known as the western pond turtle, is listed as an endangered species in Washington and a sensitive species in Oregon.
Dutton Pleads Guilty In Agreement; Relinquishes Law Enforcement Certifications
Former The Dalles City Police Officer Jeremy Dutton has plead guilty to charges of official misconduct after reaching a plea agreement with the Wasco County District Attorney’s Office. D.A. Kara Davis says the agreement includes significant restitution and Dutton relinquishing his law enforcement certifications. Davis says Dutton paid restitution of over $8,000 to the City of The Dalles representing money he received after submitting falsified time cards, which the City agreed to accept as part of a civil compromise. She adds as part of his probation, Dutton has agreed to resign from The Dalles Police Department and surrender his Oregon Bureau of Public Safety Standards and Training certifications. Davis noted Dutton is a combat veteran, and her office’s policy extends any veteran without a previous record the offer of a civil compromise or diversion if available for the charges. She said while Dutton was extended that courtesy, it was equally important that this case not be disregarded, which is why a conviction for official misconduct was pursued. Davis says The City of The Dalles and the Police Department felt the plea agreement was a fair resolution of the case.
The Dalles Council Approves Tourism Promotion Contract With Chamber
The Dalles City Council approved a three-year tourism promotion services contract with The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce, coming after an ad hoc committee evaluated proposals from five applicants. City Manager Matthew Klebes told the Council the committee that did the evaluation work noted it was an opportunity to assess how tourism recruitment and destination management should occur in The Dalles. The contract calls for the Chamber to hire an Executive Tourism Director, and for the City and Chamber to create a Destination Development Plan. In other business, the Council approved moving forward with replacement of the HVAC system at The Dalles-Wasco County Library in a 50-50 split with the library district as called for in their Intergovernmental Agreement, with the intent for the system to be installed this fall.